Best walks in Derbyshire by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in Derbyshire and plan your next day of green.
Derby Station Circular via Darley Abbey
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–9h.
Parks, river, and heritage trail.
Highlights: Museum of Making and Darley Park.
Lunch stops in Darley Park (1h–2h in): Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys. Other lunch stops: the Joiners Arms (3h–5h in), or the Orangery Café (3h–5h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Spondon Station Circular via Dale Abbey
5m direct from Derby.
17km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–8h.
Villages, park grounds, and ornamental lake.
Lunch stops in Dale Abbey (2h–3h30 in): the Carpenters Arms, or the Friar's House.
End-of-walk rewards: the Vernon Arms, the White Swan, the Hoptimist-Spondon, or the Malt Shovel.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Duffield Station to Derby Station
7m direct from Derby.
Tough: steep ascents. 17km. 4h30–8h.
Repurposed railway track along the Great Northern Greenway.
Lunch stops: the Bell and Harp (1h–1h30 in), or the Three Horseshoes (2h–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Waterfall, or the Merry Widows.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Long Eaton Station to Ilkeston Station
8m direct from Derby.
16km. Flat terrain. 4h–7h.
Canal, industrial towns, and disused railway viaduct.
Lunch stops in Hallam Fields, Ilkeston (2h30–4h in): Gallows Grub, or the Gallows Inn. Other lunch stop: La Rock (1h30–2h in).
End-of-walk reward: the Dew Drop Inn.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Ambergate Station to Langley Mill Station
15m direct from Derby.
17km.
One of the world’s oldest industrial regions. Overgrown canal towpath, woodland and field crossings, and ironworks remains. Follows the route of the disused Cromford Canal. Butterley Tunnel (nearly 3 km) collapsed in 1900, severing the canal into two sections. Substantial tree blockages on overgrown sections; busy A610 road crossing.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Whatstandwell Station Circular via Crich Tramway Village
30m direct from Derby.
2km.
Impressive views looking west across the Derwent Valley. Mostly on footpaths and uphill. The Crich Tramway Village (National Tramway Museum) originated from an impulse purchase of Southampton 45 in 1948, establishing the Tramway Museum Association in 1955. Steep steps and narrow stiles.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Ambergate Station to Cromford Station
30m direct from Derby.
8km.
Terrain along a preserved canal towpath. Walk follows preserved Cromford Canal from industrial heritage site at Ambergate to Cromford, birthplace of factory system under Richard Arkwright in 1771. Watch out for cyclists on the towpath.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Matlock Station Circular via Nine Ladies Stone Circle
30m direct from Derby.
21km.
Nine Ladies is a Bronze Age stone circle constructed between 3300-900 BCE; legend associates stones with women punished for Sunday dancing.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Bamford Station to Grindleford Station
45m from Derby, with one change.
17km.
Spectacular gritstone Stanage Edge. Gritstone edges including Stanage Edge and Burbage Edge, moorland, woodland, and riverside paths. Gritstone edges carved by ice age glaciers; historically used for millstone quarrying. Pride and Prejudice film location. Hard terrain; rocky gritstone boulders to traverse.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Ambergate Station to Alfreton Station
45m from Derby, with one change.
12km.
Impressive views back across Amber valley. Predominantly countryside walk. Walk takes in Pentrich, where the doomed Pentrich Revolution began in June 1817 — an early working-class uprising following the Napoleonic Wars. Route follows parts of the former Cromford Canal. Busy A610 with lorry traffic; stiles.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Hope Station to Edale Station
1h from Derby, with one change.
14km.
Commanding views from the top. Rough stone steps. The Great Ridge forms the divide between the limestone White Peak and the peaty gritstone Dark Peak. An ancient culture built a hillfort on Mam Tor. Rough stone steps; busy road at the pass; cattle grid.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Buxton Station to Macclesfield Station
1h 15m from Derby, with one change.
18km.
Spectacular views. Wild landscape of deep valleys and gritstone peaks and studded with peat bogs and pine forests. Buxton developed as a fashionable spa in 18th-19th centuries using profits from Dukes of Devonshire's copper mines. Macclesfield granted borough charter for market in 13th Century. Stiles; busy road with no pavement and fast traffic.